England arrived in South Africa on Thursday morning hoping a favourable first-round draw can be the catalyst for a serious World Cup challenge.
Theo Walcott was the shock casualty as England coach Fabio Capello named his final 23-man squad for the World Cup on Tuesday.
Hosts South Africa will play a 2010 World Cup warm-up match against Jamaica in Germany on Wednesday.
Bafana Bafana and North Korea played to a goalless draw on Thursday in a warm-up match as part of their preparations for the Soccer World Cup.
After Arsenal’s Champions League exit Arsène Wenger could find only one way to sum up the blitzkrieg that was Lionel Messi.
Manchester United paid the price for not controlling possession in their 2-1 defeat by Bayern Munich but the Champions League tie is still wide open.
When David Beckham ruptured his Achilles tendon, he hogged the front and back pages in the British media.
Algeria will end a 24-year absence from football’s top table when they kick their first ball at the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
After falling flat at the 2006 World Cup, this might be the chance of international silverware for some of the most well-known faces in the game.
A nation of just two million people, Slovenia have already punched above their weight to secure a place at the Soccer World Cup.
The United States reached the 2010 Soccer World Cup by finishing top in the final six-team CONCACAF Zone.
After seemingly coming from nowhere to triumph at UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) EURO 2004, Greece have continued to defy the odds.
Asia’s most frequent visitors to the Soccer World Cup, Korea Republic are also the continent’s most successful team at the event.
Expectations are diminished for Nigeria, but it was not long ago that the Super Eagles were seen as the most likely African nation to do well.
Despite a tortuous qualification campaign, Argentina are travelling to SA with serious designs on winning the title for the first time in 24 years.
France crossed a new threshold in qualifying for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, having never before graced the finals on four consecutive occasions.
After a turbulent period that saw three coaches come and go and more than sixty players, Mexico have returned to calmer waters under Javier Aguirre.
There is an air of cautious optimism in South Africa as the country prepares for the most significant chapter of its short football history.
Fears grow that the pitch at Mbombela Stadium will not be ready in time for the start of the World Cup. David Smith reports.
SuperSport United goalkeeper Emile Baron has made one of the most remarkable comebacks in South African soccer history, thanks to coach Gavin Hunt.
No-nonsense Ghana coach is looking for ‘perfect mix’ for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
No image available
/ 5 February 2010
John Terry has pleaded his case to Fabio Capello’s staff and should soon know whether he will retain the England captaincy.
No image available
/ 29 January 2010
Egypt turned up for the Afcon with only one intention, to defend their status as African champions and they seem well on their way to doing just that.
No image available
/ 29 January 2010
Soccer players in beleaguered African nations set their sights on more lucrative foreign horizons.
No image available
/ 27 January 2010
Afcon organisers are confident that they will avoid violent clashes between supporters when rivals Algeria and Egypt clash in Thursday’s semifinal.
No image available
/ 26 January 2010
Benni McCarthy could be on his way from Blackburn to West Ham after his club confirmed on Monday they’d received a written offer for the striker.
No image available
/ 21 January 2010
Egypt maintained their faultless Afcon title defence and Nigeria became the latest team to progress to the quarterfinals in Angola on Wednesday.
No image available
/ 19 January 2010
Shuaibu Amodu faces the man who could succeed him as coach of Nigeria when they play Mozambique in a key Africa Cup of Nations game on Wednesday.
No image available
/ 13 January 2010
For Mali and Algeria, Thursday’s Group A run out gives them a chance to prove their worth after indifferent starts to their Africa Cup of Nations.
No image available
/ 12 January 2010
From Mbulelo Mabizela’s lack of humility to Pedrie Wannenburg’s taste for the high life … it’s the return of the quotes of the week.
No image available
/ 12 January 2010
Less that 100 000 tickets have been sold for fans in the six African countries competing in the 2010 World Cup finals that kicks off on June 11.
No image available
/ 11 January 2010
Liverpool director Tom Hicks junior has resigned from the club’s board following a foul-mouthed e-mail he reportedly sent to a supporter.